Dale's Cancer treament

Personal message

My name is Arik. I've started this BackaBuddy for a good friend of mine Dale who needs all of our help to live. Dale has been diagnosed with Stage 3B Metastatic Melanoma.

On Valentine’s Day 2019, Dale went to his GP to have an unassuming little mole removed from his left ankle. The mole was cut out and sent for biopsy. He thought nothing more of it, until one week later…when his nightmare began.

On the 14th of March he received the worst and most unexpected news…the surgeon had found cancer in the lymph nodes of Dale’s groin. Dale had now been diagnosed with stage 3B Metastatic Melanoma.

On the advice of two oncologists who specialize in Melanoma, the best chance for the cancer not to spread further, as it is one of the more aggressive cancers, and develop into stage 4 (i.e. organ invasion: brain, liver, lungs), as well as to decrease the likelihood of recurrence in the future, is for Dale to undergo Immunotherapy treatment for a period of a year.

Dale’s medical insurance, DISCOVERY HEALTH, has rejected his oncologist's motivations to financially cover (or assist in covering) this life-saving treatment. According to their policies, only the top two comprehensive plans would subsidise 75% of the treatment costs and DISCOVERY HEALTH only allow members to upgrade at the end of the year. He is hoping that in January 2020 Dale will be able to upgrade to one of these top two plans and thereafter have Discovery cover 75% of the costs of the treatment.

Unfortunately, he has been advised that he CANNOT wait until next year to receive this critical treatment. Dale has been extremely fortunate that his Oncologist has granted him access to a six month compassionate trial on a different immunotherapy drug called Opdivo. This compassionate trial will take him to October and this is where we need YOUR help!

The Immunotherapy treatment required and accepted/approved by DISCOVERY HEALTH is called Keytruda: it’s a new and revolutionary treatment that supercharges your body’s immune system to fight cancer, no matter how big or small.

Costing:

This treatment is, however, extremely expensive. Each treatment costs approximately ZAR 100,000.00. Treatment is required every three weeks for a period of a year.

From October he will self-fund four treatments at full cost (ZAR 100,000.00 per treatment) till the end of the year and then hopefully be able to upgrade medical insurance as of January 2020 and have 75% of the treatment costs subsidised by DISCOVERY HEALTH. This means he will only have to pay a co-payment of ZAR25,000.00 per treatment till the end of May 2020.

Please help US to help Dale. He is only 31 years old – a kind, passionate and generous person, who deserves to have the opportunity to raise a family and enjoy a long life ahead of him and beat this cancer.

*Funds raised will go directly to Dale's medical bills*

Donations

Jul 01, 2019 - R 205.64

"Here's to a speedy recovery :)" - Suzaaannn

Jun 28, 2019 - R 540.00

"Donation " - Anonymous

Jun 28, 2019 - R 102.82

"Good luck " - Aviv

Jun 28, 2019 - R 500.00

"Thinking of you dale and wishing you a speedy recovery." - Hayley

Jun 27, 2019 - R 2 364.86

"Wishing you a full and speedy recovery" - Annonmys

Jun 27, 2019 - R 1 028.20

"Wishing you strength and courage to kick this. Our thoughts are with you. Donation made in memory of my Mom who would have been one of the first to donate if she were alive x" - In memory of my beautiful Mom

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Dale's Cancer Treatment Cause

My name is Jess and I’m writing this and appealing to you all on behalf of my partner and best friend - Dale Keegan, his family, friends and anyone who has ever had the pleasure of meeting him.

On the 14th of March we received the worst and most unexpected news…after a biopsy on his ankle to remove a melanoma, the surgeon had found cancer in the lymph nodes of Dale’s groin. Dale had now been diagnosed with stage 3B Metastatic Melanoma.

R122 289 223.66 raised for 9506 causes with the help of 13744 Cause Champions.